We can win ugly - says Aston Villa's Ashley Young

ASHLEY Young believes Villa’s recent ability to win ugly will stand them in good stead as they chase silverware on three fronts in 2009.

ASHLEY Young believes Villa’s recent ability to win ugly will stand them in good stead as they chase silverware on three fronts in 2009.

Villa’s performance at Hull City on Tuesday was well below par, but a fourth own-goal in seven weeks sealed a fourth straight away win and helped Villa back into fourth place.

“Tuesday night was not a good performance by the team, and we know that,’’ said Young. “This is how things go in football and how the league has gone this season.

“A lot of wins have come in the last few minutes, like ourselves at Everton. We were just delighted to get the three points.

“Maybe the Hull players would say we didn’t deserve it in the end.”

Villa were also fortunate to win at West Ham with an own-goal and previously had been under intense pressure at Everton.

“When teams don’t play well and still pick up points, that is the sign of a good side,” said Young. “We did that on Tuesday. We didn’t play well but our team spirit got us through to the final whistle. We got the goal late on and we survived.”

Villa now face a potential banana skin at Gillingham in the FA Cup on Sunday with Martin O’Neill set to name a strong side.

“We will be resting up ready for that game and will be full of confidence,” said Young. “Of course I want to play on Sunday, every player does. I don’t think any player doesn’t want to be in the team.

“It’s a squad game and the gaffer uses the squad well.

“The Champions League, Premier League and Uefa Cup are spoken about worldwide but domestically the League Cup and FA Cup are not spoken about.

“But it is another competition that we are in. We want to go and win it.”

Villa have been drawn against Manchester United in four

of the past seven years at the third-round stage and the fact that they have avoided them this year has given them hopes of a well overdue run in the competition.

“There’s been a bit of talk among the boys that we haven’t got Man Utd this year but it will be a tough game going down to Gillingham,” said Young. “We’ll be on our toes though and ready for what they throw at us.

“There’s always an intense atmosphere in the FA Cup. Whether you play home or away, it’s a one-off game. There are a lot of upsets.

If we get off to a good start that will stand us in good stead.”

Meanwhile, Martin O’Neill has dismissed reports from John Carew’s agent that the player could be sidelined long-term.

“This is an injury that will take time. It is hard to say when John will be back. Maybe in February, maybe in March or later,” Per Flod told the Norwegian press.